New Allegations against Kent Hehr

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by CliffFletcher

Which is why it's so disturbing to watch Black Mirror - I honestly believe many of the social behaviours presented in the show will become reality in the next 20 years.

In a thread full of ridiculous hot takes, this might be the hottest.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by taco.vidal

On his own with the help of his advisors, Kent will likely make a statement that he has been suffering some sort of mental disorder or disorders that have caused him to act in a way that is not his true self. He will announce that he is seeking treatment and that he hopes to continue serving his constituents. This may be blamed on PTSD, depression or any number of possible afflictions.

I dont think that is what his problem is. I think he just isnt a very nice guy.

As gross as Kent Hehr's actions are, and as unlikable as he is... I've met him in person a few times, and he's a straight up jerk, the man has been through personal tragedy that would likely make even the best of us misguided, jaded asshats. So you have to take him somewhat with a grain of salt. It doesn't necessarily excuse his behavior, but it offers a reasonable explanation. The guy was robbed of everything over nothing.

Before the Liberal party went all in to get the "Super awesome diversity LOOK AT OUR WHEELCHAIR GUY!!!!11!1!1" card, they maybe should have vetted the guy a bit. I could have told you, and many others I know, the guy was an a-hole over a decade ago.

Originally Posted by rubecube

In a thread full of ridiculous hot takes, this might be the hottest.

Not so fast, China is already looking at it, and starting to implement 'Black Mirror' style of social order. Probably some government official watched it, and didn't understand it was supposed to be satire, and thought it was supercool awesome.... either way, it's coming.

http://www.businessinsider.com/china...mirror-2016-10

[ricosuave]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

Why would we need to add flavour to the discussion?

Why can't we leave it at a simple, "It's not okay to call a colleague yummy at the workplace, that's sexual harrasment"?

Especially when you're in a position of power and the person you're talking to has expressed no reason for that to be okay. Unless she was wearing a donut costume.

Because it’s a discussion?

[llwhiteoutll]

Apparently the woman who made the latest accusations has demanded the media stop contacting her about it and has said she won’t be commenting on it further.

What a joke.

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

Apparently the woman who made the latest accusations has demanded the media stop contacting her about it and has said she won’t be commenting on it further.

What a joke.

Why is that a joke? You think she's making it up?

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll

Apparently the woman who made the latest accusations has demanded the media stop contacting her about it and has said she won’t be commenting on it further.

What a joke.

Why does she need to say anymore, she's probably said everything that she needs to say.

[V]

Originally Posted by longsuffering

I say this in the most collegial way possible -

Somehow, this is how I would have expected the legendary CaptainCrunch to be described as behaving at an office party

Originally Posted by longsuffering

Wow. Way over the line.

You're (rightfully) defending women being subject to verbal or even physical abuse in the workplace but you lose all credibility, not to mention the respect I had for your position, when you turn around and take a cheap shot in the poorest of taste about a person with disabilities confined to a wheelchair.

And your little hidden qualifier indicates to me that you knew your post was wrong.

Hypocrite. Shame on you.

Originally Posted by longsuffering

The bag was intended to indicate my 'shame' for making a cheap joke.

Captain, it was honestly meant in jest and comes from your legendary status here. You have regaled this board with stories of your exploits (not sexual conquests, granted) over the years and I suppose I thought you fancied yourself a bit of a larger than life character.

My sincerest apology if it offends. I'll take it down.

I can't be the only one that thinks this is one of the funniest things I've seen on this board in a long time. You felt so powerful shaming Oling, haha. And it only lasted 5 minutes.

[chemgear]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well first of all, I'm not dismissing anyone’s complaints, or at least that’s not my intention, so let’s get that out of the way.

Of course I wouldn’t condone this behaviour, and that’s not really up for debate either. I’m not going to defend this as a proper action or anything like it, if that’s what you’re hoping for. I just think that I would want to hear from Kent on his version of these events and such before I would call for the axe.

I'm not hoping for anything. I just recall from the previous thread about the multiple previous allegations that you were ready to dismiss them all because you thought they were all ridiculous and that you knew Hehr. And that the group of women making that accusations looked like they could in fact be making accusations for financial gain.

Again, I'm trying not to be a jerk here but I was kinda surprised and remember asking if I was misinterpreting you.

EDIT: https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpo...postcount=3415

[TheScorpion]

Oh, Kent. This is really disappointing to me, I know Kent decently well and he's always struck me as nothing but a class act in person. It's a shame that he conducts himself differently in different circumstances. Obviously, these comments are unacceptable, and good that he resigned.

[Flames_Gimp]

Originally Posted by Oling_Roachinen

He's not going to step down. Maybe rolls down though.

sarcastic laugh and eye roll, lol

[Slava]

Originally Posted by chemgear

I'm not hoping for anything. I just recall from the previous thread about the multiple previous allegations that you were ready to dismiss them all because you thought they were all ridiculous and that you knew Hehr. And that the group of women making that accusations looked like they could in fact be making accusations for financial gain.

Again, I'm trying not to be a jerk here but I was kinda surprised and remember asking if I was misinterpreting you.

EDIT: https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showpo...postcount=3415

Right and that was also a different situation? I stand by that thought though. Once that group stated that they would only accept an apology in the event that the government paid them it became clear what the underlying issue really was.

I don't think it's a stretch to say that I can change my position or make decisions on what I would condone based on the circumstances. I do have a lot of issues with this "sexual misconduct" because I think that the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction. What I mean is that for years there were all kinds of dirtbags taking all kinds of liberties with women, and that situation was accepted and condoned for far too long. Now we have an opposite scenario brewing where men are accused, tried in the media and punished immediately. Case in point; Kent was accused on twitter and "resigned" from cabinet within 24 hours for allegedly calling someone "yummy" about a decade ago. My personal opinion is that this is extremely heavy-handed.

I do want to note though, that it's really not my decision to make on who gets offended about what. So while my personal opinion as a white male individual, is kind of "sticks and stones" the truth is that I know women who just plain sick and tired of the antics of men in general. I struggle with this because I think that when I read a news story about an "unwanted advance" I think to myself...geez, I wonder if the time I awkwardly leaned in to kiss that girl and she rebuffed me is now considered some kind of sexual misconduct? But you know...times have changed. While I think guys like me were the norm and we were kind of fumbling, shy and somewhat modest, it's different. Guys don't take "no" for an answer unless the girl has a boyfriend or husband. Single girls can say "no" and men in general think that allows permission to try to grind them down or something like that.

tldr; I'm somewhat conflicted here. I know that there are a lot of guys out there who just think that they can do whatever they want in their unending quest to conquer women. At the same time do I think that a federal cabinet minister should effectively have his career ruined because he called someone "yummy" a decade ago? It seems a bit much.

[chedder]

He didn't resign because the only thing he did was call one woman 'yummy'. There's almost definitely a pattern here that would have been blown wide open had he not resigned. He knows that.

There's just too much smoke to not know the house is in fire. Too many people saying he's a creep. I don't know him but, growing up in Calgary around the same time, I even remember hearing that he was a bully and a jerk way back then. People rarely change from that.

[CliffFletcher]

Originally Posted by chedder

I don't know him but, growing up in Calgary around the same time, I even remember hearing that he was a bully and a jerk way back then. People rarely change from that.

I went to MRC at the same time as Hehr, and I heard the same things. There's a Hollywood narrative that suffering a tragedy or disability is ennobling and makes people into heroes. I don't think that's the way the world really works.

[Clever_Iggy]

Late to the game.

Finally. I’ve heard the same story for years and years about Kent Hehr. Those that I know who were harassed, I’m encouraging to speak out.

His facade is crumbling.

[CaptainCrunch]

Trudeau has really been let down by his cabinet ministers since the start of this government, I said in the beginning that if you have a inexperienced Prime Minister you need a strong cabinet to balance it off, and at first glance with a few exceptions it looked like he did a decent job of selecting his team.

But time after time and issue after issue his cabinet ministers have lied, bumbled and blundered. But a lot of those are to an extent forgivable.

Kent Hehr isn't forgivable. He should have been tossed out of the Cabinet when people started coming out calling him a bully and worse.

But with this, and the expectations is that there are more people coming forward, and I believe another one came forward last night talking about his conduct at a party or a meet and greet, the problem for Trudeau is that by firing him from cabinet and calling it a leave of absence he looks like he compromising his own standards.

Kent Hehr should have been booted from the party and forced to sit as an independent, the Liberals should be washing their hands of him, he's pretty much confirmed that he's a creep and a jerk, and if our Prime Minister wants to show that he's strong on issues like this then he has to issue the harshest penalty possible. If Hehr can prove his innocence then by all means invite him back and throw him a party with a cake.

Trudeau has to start showing that he cares about what his cabinet is doing, and gaining control over it.

Its not like Kent was at all competent in any of his roles, he failed in veteran affairs, he insulted people in his role with sports and persons with disabilities.

Its not like his vote is going to shift the balance of the Liberal Majority.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by chedder

He didn't resign because the only thing he did was call one woman 'yummy'. There's almost definitely a pattern here that would have been blown wide open had he not resigned. He knows that.

There's just too much smoke to not know the house is in fire. Too many people saying he's a creep. I don't know him but, growing up in Calgary around the same time, I even remember hearing that he was a bully and a jerk way back then. People rarely change from that.

That actually calls into question another angle on this though. I understand why the victims in these cases might not come forward until they're comfortable doing so, and I take zero issue with that. But it does make me wonder about people who "knew about this for years" or however it's phrased and yet did nothing. I'm not specifically talking about being a jerk either. If it was well-known that he or other men have been inappropriate or committed these acts, why did these people enable that behaviour and stand idly by?

And no...I don't mean that as a defence or anything of the sort. It's more of a general question not even limited to this particular case.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by chedder

He didn't resign because the only thing he did was call one woman 'yummy'. There's almost definitely a pattern here that would have been blown wide open had he not resigned. He knows that.

There's just too much smoke to not know the house is in fire. Too many people saying he's a creep. I don't know him but, growing up in Calgary around the same time, I even remember hearing that he was a bully and a jerk way back then. People rarely change from that.

Oh and I should add, he resigned because he was either going to resign or be booted. It's politics and there was no other way for the government to proceed.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by Slava

That actually calls into question another angle on this though. I understand why the victims in these cases might not come forward until they're comfortable doing so, and I take zero issue with that. But it does make me wonder about people who "knew about this for years" or however it's phrased and yet did nothing. I'm not specifically talking about being a jerk either. If it was well-known that he or other men have been inappropriate or committed these acts, why did these people enable that behaviour and stand idly by?

And no...I don't mean that as a defence or anything of the sort. It's more of a general question not even limited to this particular case.

Yeah, I kind of take some issue with this as well. If somebody had just stepped in and said "Hey Kent, this isn't cool. Knock it off.", then maybe a) he would have changed his behavior and been more respectful, and b) this wouldn't have been drawn out for so long.

Maybe I am just projecting how I would react to being told that I was out of line on something of that nature. I don't know what went on here though, but I kind of liken it to maybe body odor or bad breath - you're kind of nose-blind to it, and if nobody corrects you on it, you'll probably stay that way and people will just warn others not to get to close to you because your breath smells like dead rodents, instead of helping to solve the problem.

[OMG!WTF!]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Yeah, I kind of take some issue with this as well. If somebody had just stepped in and said "Hey Kent, this isn't cool. Knock it off.", then maybe a) he would have changed his behavior and been more respectful, and b) this wouldn't have been drawn out for so long.

Maybe I am just projecting how I would react to being told that I was out of line on something of that nature. I don't know what went on here though, but I kind of liken it to maybe body odor or bad breath - you're kind of nose-blind to it, and if nobody corrects you on it, you'll probably stay that way and people will just warn others not to get to close to you because your breath smells like dead rodents, instead of helping to solve the problem.

I think a lot of it has to do with how we react to stressful situations. It's like if you've ever been really really close to getting in a fight with someone and then twenty minutes later you think of all the great things you should have said to the jerk but all you could manage to say at the time was %#$@!!!. The time to address the issue is by the first person, not second hand and while that person is in the elevator.

In simpler terms, are any of you going to walk into your boss's office and start accusing him of being a Kent Hehr?

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by OMG!WTF!

In simpler terms, are any of you going to walk into your boss's office and start accusing him of being a Kent Hehr?

It's a difficult question to answer. First of all you never go directly to your boss and make any accusations. You register a complaint with HR. Say there's talk in my office that my boss is grabby with the women. I simply can't go to HR and make any accusations based off hearsay seeing I have witnessed nothing. However if a female made accusations and an investigation was taking place I could bring my concern to HR that this has been ongoing talk in the office and bothers myself and others that it has not been addressed.